Meshack Motloung

Meshack Motloung

The Eye Patch Challenge, a series of regional tournaments where all the golfers play the entire round while wearing an eye patch, will be staged at different venues from March until May.

The competition tees off at De Zalze, Pretoria Country Club and Parkview Golf Course, and will conclude in a final tournament at the revamped Hermanus course on May 5.

The tournament, which starts at at De Zalze on March 23, is aimed at levelling the playing fields between disabled and able-bodied players.

Danie Calitz, a promising young golfer who lost his sight in his left eye, said they wanted the able-bodied golfers to experience the challenges of the disabled first hand.

"At the same time, we will be demonstrating that playing golf is a compelling way to get the disabled motivated and get attracted to the game," he said.

"The game not only provides social interaction, fresh air and the chance to have fun, but it provides active healing for both mind and body."

Each regional tournament will be played as a four-ball alliance competition, with the top three teams from each region qualifying for the final in Hermanus.

The South African Development Golf Association is actively working with disabled golfers with several worthy objectives.

Its aims are to encourage every South African with a permanent disability or temporary physical disability to play golf and promote it as a viable form of rehabilitation and recreation.